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Man charged with kidnapping, rape

A woman was reportedly kidnapped off the street and raped early Tuesday morning and Covington Police arrested 50-year-old Stoney Lamar Usher and charged him with the crime.

According to Covington Police detective D.J. Seals, the woman and her friend were walking down Pine Needle Drive at approximately 2:44 a.m. when Usher allegedly approached them and got into a small verbal altercation with the victim.

The witness reportedly told officers that Usher grabbed the victim by the neck and pulled her into a home on the street at which point the witness called 911. When authorities arrived, they knocked on the door of the home and after a few moments Usher reportedly came to the door.

According to Seals, Usher was cooperative and when the officer asked to come inside the home and speak with the woman, Usher reportedly let the officer in willingly. When they found the woman, she was visibly upset, according to the officer and she told the officer that Usher had forced himself on her sexually. Usher had a different story. According to Seals he did not deny having sex with the women, but reportedly said the act was consensual.

Due to the victim’s statement and the witness, who allegedly saw Usher grab the victim by the neck and drag her into the home, Usher was placed under arrest and charged with kidnapping and rape.

"Unfortunately it is rare in a rape case to have a witness to any part of it," said Seals. "But in this case it has helped us out tremendously to have someone tell us that she watched him [Usher] forcefully take her [the victim] into a residence. It was very brave of her to come forward."

Although officers believe the two may have known each other, there is no indication they had ever been intimately involved in the past. Also, Usher is currently on parole and has been out of prison for less then a year, though Seals said his record does not indicate he has ever been violent in the past, nor does he have a history of this type of crime.

The victim was taken to Newton Medical Center to be checked after the alleged attack and, according to Seals, put up no resistance.

As of press time, Usher remained in the Newton County Detention Center, charged with kidnapping and rape — both felonies.